Method of conducting a card game with tiebreaker

ABSTRACT

Players place one or more wager and opt whether to use tiebreaker resolution. Players and a banker receive a hand that is divided into two sets. If both sets of a player hand outrank the corresponding sets of the banker hand, the player is rewarded on his wager; if both sets of the banker hand outrank the corresponding sets of a player hand, the player loses his wager. If only one of the player&#39;s sets outranks the corresponding dealer set, and the player elected tiebreaker resolution, the player compares a third set, optionally shared among all players electing tiebreaker resolution, to a banker third set. The player is rewarded if two of the three player sets outrank the corresponding banker&#39;s sets. In an optional embodiment, players may also place proposition wagers for which the winning hands and the eligibility for pay outs may depend upon the player&#39;s proposition wager.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to games of chance. Specifically, thepresent invention is a method for conducting a card game including anoptional tiebreaker procedure selectable by the player to eliminate“push” hands.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Card games such as pai gow poker have become increasingly popular incasinos. Pai gow poker, for example, is played with a standard deck ofcards with a joker added. Typically the game is started with each playerplacing an “ante” wager. The dealer deals seven cards to each playerposition and to himself. Unoccupied player positions are dealt cards,even though the cards are never used in the actual play of the game.Since the typical pai gow poker table has six player positions, thereare normally forty-nine cards dealt (seven hands, six players plus thedealer, of seven cards each) with four cards remaining undealt. Afterall cards have been dealt, face down, the dealer collects the cards fromthe unoccupied player positions, and places them along with remainingundealt into a discard stack.

Each player arranges his seven card hand into a five-card component handand a two-card component hand, using each card in one component handonly, and places the component hands, face down, in designated locationson the table. While attempting to maximize the likelihood of winning atleast one of the two hands, the player's only restriction in arranginghis cards is that the five-card hand must have a higher poker rankingthan the two-card hand.

The dealer likewise arranges his seven card hand into a five-cardcomponent hand and a two-card component hand, using each card in onecomponent hand only, and places the component hands, face up, indesignated locations on the table. The dealer typically arranges hisseven card hand according to a set of house rules that are intended tostandardize the setting of hands and remove any discretion on the partof the dealer.

In conventional pai gow poker rules, the joker may represent an ace ormay be used to complete a straight or a flush. Typically five aces isthe highest ranking hand, below which other hands follow standard pokerrankings.

If the player's five-card hand and two-card hand outrank the dealer'sfive-card hand and two-card hand, respectively, the player wins, and isawarded an amount equaling his ante wager, often less a house commissionof typically 5%. If the dealer's five-card hand and two-card handoutrank the player's five-card hand and two-card hand, respectively, theplayer loses, and his ante wager is collected by the dealer. If only oneof the player's component hands outranks the corresponding dealer'scomponent hand, the result is a “push” and neither the player nor thedealer wins. In comparing either the five-card hands or the two-cardhands, copy hands, hands which are of equal rank, are won by the dealer.

Approximately forty percent of all pai gow poker hands result in a push,and nobody wins. These are typically unsatisfying to the player,although many players adopt a “push” strategy, attempting to dividetheir cards so as to achieve at least a push, i.e. playing to avoid aloss, rather than taking risks to attempt a win. However, a method ofbreaking ties, where such method is of no worse probability than theprimary game, are highly desirable.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,491,302 entitled “Pai Gow Poker with Tiebreaker Cards,”discloses a method of breaking ties. Of the four undealt cards, two aredealt into a tiebreaker section of the table, one for the dealer and onefor the players. Any pushes that may occur are resolved by revealing thetiebreakers, with the player winning where the player card is higherthan the dealer card, and the house winning where the dealer card ishigher than, or equal to, the player card. At tables which feature thistiebreaker, its use is mandatory to resolve pushes, and totally outsideof the player's control. Furthermore, by using only a single card, andhaving the house win in the event of a tie, the player's overall oddsare actually worsened.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The method of the present invention is directed to games in which aplayer is dealt a player hand, and arranges the player hand intosub-hands or component hands. Such games include pai gow poker, butcould also include many other games.

In an optional embodiment of the present game, the player places one ormore wager. The player also opts whether the hand will be eligible fortiebreaker resolution. In an optional embodiment, the tiebreakerresolution is optional and the player may select whether or not thetiebreaker is used for that particular player's hand.

In one optional embodiment of the present invention, the player may alsoplace an optional proposition wager. While the specific winning handsand pay outs for the proposition wagers may vary, it is contemplatedthat in an optional embodiment, the quantity of winning hands and/or theeligibility of the player to one or more supplemental pay outs maydepend upon the amount wagered by the player.

A hand of cards is dealt to each player and the banker. Optionally, eachhand contains seven cards. In a further optional embodiment, six playerhands and one banker hand is dealt without regard to whether the allplayer positions are occupied. Optionally, the hands are dealt from astandard fifty-two card deck with an added joker.

Each of the players and the banker arrange their hands into a first setand a mutually exclusive second set. Optionally, the first set containsfive cards and the second set contains two cards.

The player's hand is compared to the banker's hand by comparing thefirst set and second set of the player's hand to the first set andsecond set, respectively, of the banker's hand. If both the player'ssets outrank the corresponding banker's sets, the player is rewarded. Ifboth the banker's sets outrank the corresponding player's sets, theplayer's wager is collected.

If only one of the player's sets outranks the corresponding banker set,resolution depends upon whether the player elected tiebreakerresolution. If the player did not elect tiebreaker resolution, theresult is a push and the player's wager is returned.

If the player did elect tiebreaker resolution, a third set is assignedto the player and to the banker. Optionally, the third set is sharedamong all players electing tiebreaker resolution. In one optionalversion of such an embodiment, cards are dealt to two sets and the setsare randomly assigned to the banker third set and the player third set.Optionally, the two sets contain two cards each.

If two of the three player sets outrank the corresponding banker sets,the player is rewarded based on the player's wager. Conversely, if twoof the three banker sets outrank the corresponding player sets, theplayer's wager is collected. Optionally, in comparing the third set, theplayer third set outranks the banker third set if the player third setis of equal or greater rank to the banker third set.

In an optional embodiment including proposition wagers, the propositionwagers are resolved by comparing the player hand to a predefined tableof winning hands and associated pay outs. If the player's hand comprisesa winning hand, the player is rewarded based on his proposition wager.As noted above, the hands that comprise a winning hand for purposes ofreceiving a pay out on the proposition wager may optionally increase asthe size of the player's proposition wager increases. Additionally oralternatively, a supplemental payout, such as a jackpot or progressive,may be available only to players placing a proposition wager of certainpredefined quantity.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a top view of a layout of a gaming table for play of a cardgame according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a flow chart of a method according to an embodiment of thepresent invention.

DESCRIPTION

Reference is now made to the figures wherein like parts are referred toby like numerals throughout. Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the presentinvention is a method and device for playing and conducting a card game.It is contemplated that the present game could be conducted in any formincluding, for example, at a table using physical playing cards, or at atable, at a personal computer, at a kiosk, or at a gaming machine usingelectronic playing cards.

For example, in the optional embodiment illustrated, a table layout 100is provided. The table layout 100 consists of six player locations 110,120, 130, 140, 150, 160 and a dealer location 170.

In the optional embodiment shown, the dealer location 170 consists ofdealer hand placement locations 171, 172 and a tiebreaker areaconsisting of tiebreaker card locations 181, 182. In the optionalembodiment illustrated, each player location 110, 120, 130, 140, 150,160 consists of a location to place a first player set 201, a locationto place a second player set 202, a location to place the player's wager203, and a location 205 for the player to designate whether the playerelects tiebreaker resolution of the player's hand. In an optionalembodiment including a proposition wager, each player location 110, 120,130, 140, 150, 160 may also include a location (not shown) for theplayer to place the proposition wager.

Turning to the method of the present invention, one optional embodimentof which is illustrated in FIG. 2, each player places 300 one or morewager. It is noted that the game may be banked by the house, or in anoptional embodiment, a player-banker. It is contemplated that, accordingto house rule, a player-banker may not be permitted. However, in anoptional embodiment in which a player-banker is permitted, it is furthercontemplated that a single player may serve as player-banker or the bankmay rotate among those players desiring to act as banker, with anoptional rule that the house may reclaim the bank at any time, such asbetween each player-banker. In an optional embodiment in which aplayer-banker is permitted, the player-banker may be identified at thetable using a “Banker” marker. In any event, the term “banker” refers tothe person or entity that is paying wining wagers and collecting losingwagers and could refer to a house-banker or a player-banker.

In one optional embodiment, each player also opts whether the playerdesires tiebreaker resolution of the player's hand. In such an optionalembodiment, the election of tiebreaker resolution could take place atany point during the game. For example, it is contemplated that theplayer may opt for tiebreaker resolution of the player's hand beforecommencing game play, i.e. before any hands are dealt; before theplayer's hand is dealt; after the player's hand is dealt but before theplayer's hand is compared to the banker's hand; after comparing theplayer's hand to the banker's hand; or any other point during the game.

In an optional embodiment, a player electing tiebreaker resolution ofthe player's hand indicates his or her selection using a marker orbutton in front of the player's location. By turning the marker orbutton in one direction, the player has elected tiebreaker resolution,by reversing the marker or button, the player has declined tiebreakerresolution.

In another embodiment, tiebreaker resolution is not optional and eachplayer hand may resolved using a form of tiebreaker resolution if theplayer hand and banker hand cannot be resolved using the first andsecond sets of the respective hands, as described below.

An optional embodiment of the present method may also include anoptional proposition wager. In such an embodiment, players electing toplace the optional proposition wager place the desired amount into aproposition wager location. As discussed in greater detail below, theamount or quantity staked by the player for a proposition wager maydetermine the criteria for the player winning the proposition wagerand/or the eligibility of the player for certain pay outs orsupplemental pay outs.

Each of the player and the banker are dealt 302 a hand of cards. In theevent that a player is acting as banker, the dealer may optionally beincluded among the players. Optionally, the present method is conductedusing a standard deck of fifty-two playing cards (deuce through Ace ineach of four suits) plus a single joker for a total of fifty-threeplaying cards. As known in conventional pai gow and pai gow poker, thehands may be dealt to a “wood pile” and a random determination, such asa dice roll or the like, determines the distribution of the hands.

Optionally, each hand dealt consists of seven playing cards. That is, insuch an optional embodiment, each player and the banker is dealt sevencards to a hand. Each player and the dealer arrange 304 his or her handinto two sets, a first set and a second set. As noted above, the presentmethod could be applied to any game. However, in an optional embodimentsimilar to pai gow poker, the players and banker arrange their handsinto a first set of five cards and a second set of two cards, where thesets are mutually exclusive. Optionally, the player may arrange thefirst set and second set in any manner desired, although the player maybe restricted to arranging the sets so that the rank of the five-cardhand is greater than the rank of the two-card hand. While there may beany, or no, rules governing how players set their hands, the banker maybe required to set his or her hand according to a “house way” or “houserules.” In an optional embodiment in which a player-banker banks thegame, the dealer may function as a player and resolve his or her handagainst the player-banker. For example, in one such embodiment, thedealer places a “wager” equal to the most recent wager placed by theplayer acting as banker. Once the cards are dealt, the player-bankerestablishes the first set and second set for the player-banker hand. Thedealer then reveals and arranges his or her hand. If the player-banker'ssets outrank both corresponding sets of the dealer hand, theplayer-banker collects the dealer's “wager,” optionally less acommission. If both the dealer's sets outrank the correspondingplayer-banker's sets, the player-banker pays the dealer's wager. Theplayer-banker's hand may then be moved to the dealer hand placementlocations 171, 172.

Each player's wager is resolved by comparing 306 the first set andsecond set of the player hand to the first set and second set,respectively, of the banker hand. If both the first set and second setof the player hand outrank the corresponding first set and second set ofthe banker hand, the banker rewards 310 the player based on the player'swager. Optionally, the player is rewarded at even money. While theplayer may be paid full even money, in a further optional embodiment,the player is assessed a commission, such as 5%, on winning hands.

Conversely, if both the first and second set of the banker hand outrankthe corresponding first set and second set of the player hand, thebanker collects the player's wager. Optionally, a copy set, that is,where the player and banker have a set of equal rank, are resolved infavor of the banker in comparing the first and second sets. As discussedin greater detail below, this rule may be different for a third setdealt in a tiebreaker.

In the event 308 that only one of the player sets outranks acorresponding banker set and the other banker set outranks thecorresponding player set (commonly referred to as a push), in oneoptional embodiment, resolution of the player's wager depends uponwhether tiebreaker resolution applies 312 to the particular hand. Asnoted above, in one optional embodiment, tiebreaker resolution mayalways apply to every hand, i.e. tiebreaker resolution is not optional.In another optional embodiment, tiebreaker resolution is optional andapplies if the player elected tiebreaker resolution of the player'shand. If the player did not elect 314 tiebreaker resolution of theplayer's hand, the player's hand is a push and the player's wager orwagers are returned.

If the player did elect tiebreaker resolution of the player's hand,additional tiebreaker sets are dealt 316 to the player and dealer. Inone optional embodiment, a third set is dealt for the player and a thirdset is dealt for the banker. Optionally, all players electing tiebreakerresolution share the same third set. In an optional embodiment, each ofthe player and banker third sets contain two cards. For example, in oneoptional embodiment the four cards remaining after dealing the seven,seven-card hands are allocated to two sets. The sets are then randomlydesignated a player third set and a dealer third set. The randomdesignation could occur in many different ways, but in an optionalembodiment, a die or other random generating means could be used.

The tiebreaker resolution continues by comparing the player's sets,including the player's tiebreaker set, to the banker's sets, includingthe banker's tiebreaker set. If a majority of the player's sets outranka majority of the dealer's sets, the player wins and is rewarded 318.Thus, in an example in which each player arranges his or her hand intotwo sets, and tiebreaker resolution consists of dealing one additionalset, the player's three sets are compared to the banker's three sets. Iftwo of the three player sets outrank the corresponding banker sets, theplayer wins and is rewarded on his or her one or more wager. Incomparing the third sets, optionally, the copy third sets, that is setsof equal rank, are resolved in favor of the player. That is, in such anoptional embodiment, for the player third set to outrank the bankerthird set, the player third set must have an equal or greater rank thanthe banker third set. Such an optional rule may be used when acommission is charged to the player for winning hands. In anotheroptional embodiment, typically where a commission is not charged to theplayer for winning hands, copy third sets may be resolved in favor ofthe banker.

In another optional embodiment, as noted above, tiebreaker resolution isnot optional and any player hand in which only one of the player setsoutranks a corresponding banker set is resolved using a tiebreaker. Insuch an optional embodiment, tiebreaker resolution would proceedsubstantially as previously described.

In an optional embodiment including proposition wagers, the player'shand is compared to a predefined pay table of winning hands andassociated pay outs. If the player's hand includes a winning hand, theplayer is rewarded on his or her proposition wager. For example, thewinning hands may include various five-card hands. If the player'soriginal seven cards, i.e. the cards used to form the first set andsecond set, contain any of the five-card winning hands, the player ispaid on his or her proposition wager. An example pay table is shown inTable 1 below: TABLE 1 Winning Hands Pay Out Five Aces 400:1  RoyalFlush 150:1  Straight Flush 50:1  Four of a Kind 25:1  Full House 5:1Flush 4:1 Three of a Kind 3:1 Straight 2:1It is specifically noted that this example pay table should beconsidered exemplary only and should not be considered limiting.Specifically, it is noted that greater or fewer hand could be eligiblefor a pay out and/or the pay out amounts could differ from those shown.

In an optional embodiment, the amount staked by the player, i.e. theamount of the player's proposition wager, may determine the pay table.For example, by placing a wager of predetermined quantity, the playermay be eligible to be paid a supplemental pay out in addition to the payout listed on the pay table. Thus, in such an example, a player wageringa first amount, less than a threshold, who receives five aces is paid400:1, whereas another player wagering a second amount, greater than athreshold, who receives five aces is paid 400:1 plus a bonus orprogressive jackpot.

In an optional embodiment, the quantity of a player's proposition wagermay change the quantity of winning hands. For example, by placing awager of predetermined quantity, the player may be eligible to be paidfor additional winning hands that are not available to players notwagering the predetermined quantity. Thus, in such an example, a playerwagering a first amount, less than a threshold, may be paid based onTable 1, whereas another player wagering a second amount, greater than athreshold, may be paid based on Table 1 supplemented by the hands ofTable 2 below: Winning Hands Pay Out Nine-High Pai Gow 40:1  Ten-HighPai Gow 5:1 Jack-High Pai Gow 1:1 Queen-High Pai Gow PushSince a “Pai Gow” is typically considered a weak hand, the optional paytable of Table 2 may be viewed as a form of “insurance.” Again, however,the winning hands and pay outs of Table 2 should be considered exemplaryonly and not limiting in the specific hands paid, the types of handspaid (i.e. weak hands), or the pay outs. Rather, it is contemplated thatany hand, of any strength, may be paid at any rate.

While certain embodiments of the present invention have been shown anddescribed it is to be understood that the present invention is subjectto many modifications and changes without departing from the spirit andscope of the claims presented herein.

1. A method for conducting a card game between a banker and at least oneplayer using one or more decks of playing cards, or electronicrepresentations thereof, comprising: the player placing one or morewager; the player opting for tiebreaker resolution of the player's hand;dealing a hand of cards to each player and the banker; dividing eachhand of cards into a first set and a second set, said first and secondsets mutually exclusive; for each player hand, comparing said first setand second set of said player hand to said first set and second set,respectively, of said banker hand; for each player hand, if both saidfirst set and second set of said player hand outrank said correspondingfirst set and second set of said banker hand, rewarding said playerbased on said one or more wager; for each player hand, if both saidfirst set and second set of said banker hand outrank said correspondingfirst set and second set of said player hand, collecting said one ormore wager; and for each player hand, if said only one of said first setor second set outrank said corresponding first set or second set of saidbanker hand, resolving said player hand as follows: (a) if said playerdid not elect tiebreaker resolution of said hand, returning said one ormore wager and (b) if said player did elect tiebreaker resolution ofsaid hand, dealing a third set for the player and a third set for thebanker and, if two of the three sets of the player hand outrank thecorresponding sets of the banker hand, rewarding the player based onsaid one or more wager, otherwise collecting said one or more wager. 2.The method of claim 1 wherein the player opts for tiebreaker resolutionof the player's hand prior to the beginning of the game play.
 3. Themethod of claim 1 wherein the player opts for tiebreaker resolution ofthe player's hand after the beginning of the game play but prior todealing the player's hand.
 4. The method of claim 1 wherein the playeropts for tiebreaker resolution of the player's hand after dealing theplayer's hand but prior to comparing said first set and second set ofsaid player hand to said first set and second set, respectively, of saidbanker hand.
 5. The method of claim 1 wherein the player opts fortiebreaker resolution of the player's hand after comparing said firstset and second set of said player hand to said first set and second set,respectively, of said banker hand.
 6. The method of claim 1 wherein saidthird set of said player outranks said third set of said banker if therank of said third set of said player is greater than or equal to therank of said third set of said banker.
 7. The method of claim 1 furthercomprising: before dealing said player hands, said player opting whetherto place a second wager on the player hand compared to a predefined paytable of winning hands and associated pay outs; and after dealing saidplayer hands, resolving each player's second wager by rewarding saidplayer with the associated pay out if said player's hand is a winninghand according to said pay table.
 8. The method of claim 1 wherein eachsaid third set comprises two playing cards.
 9. The method of claim 1wherein said step of dealing a third set to said player and said bankercomprises: randomly dealing cards into two sets; and randomlydesignating one of said sets the player third set and one of said setsthe banker third set.
 10. The method of claim 1 wherein six player handsand one banker hand are dealt.
 11. The method of claim 1 wherein eachplayer hand and each banker hand comprises seven cards.
 12. The methodof claim 1 wherein each player hand and the banker hand are dealt from adeck of cards comprising a single conventional deck of fifty-two cardsplus one joker.
 13. The method of claim 12 wherein six player hands andone banker hand are dealt.
 14. The method of claim 12 wherein eachplayer hand and each banker hand comprises seven cards.
 15. The methodof claim 14 wherein six player hands and one banker hand are dealt. 16.The method of claim 15 wherein said step of dealing a third set to saidplayer and said banker comprises of randomly dealing the four remainingcards in said deck into two sets of two cards each.
 17. The method ofclaim 16 further comprising randomly designating one of said two sets oftwo cards each the player third set and one of said sets the bankerthird set.
 18. The method of claim 17 wherein said the two sets of twocards each are randomly designated by the outcome of the rolling of adie or dice.
 19. A method for conducting a card game between a bankerand at least one player using one or more decks of playing cards, orelectronic representations thereof, comprising: the player placing oneor more wager; the player opting for tiebreaker resolution of theplayer's hand; dealing a hand of cards to each player and the banker;dividing each hand of cards into a first set and a second set, saidfirst and second sets mutually exclusive; for each player hand,comparing said first set and second set of said player hand to saidfirst set and second set, respectively, of said banker hand; for eachplayer hand, if both said first set and second set of said player handoutrank said corresponding first set and second set of said banker hand,rewarding said player based on said one or more wager; for each playerhand, if both said first set and second set of said banker hand outranksaid corresponding first set and second set of said player hand,collecting said one or more wager; and for each player hand, if saidonly one of said first set or second set outrank said correspondingfirst set or second set of said banker hand, resolving said player handas follows: (a) if said player did not elect tiebreaker resolution ofsaid hand, returning said player's wager and (b) if said player didelect tiebreaker resolution of said hand, dealing a third set sharedamong all players electing tiebreaker resolution and a third set for thebanker and, if two of the three sets of the player hand outrank thecorresponding sets of the banker hand, rewarding the player based onsaid one or more wager, otherwise collecting said one or more wager. 20.The method of claim 19 wherein the player opts for tiebreaker resolutionof the player's hand prior to the beginning of the game play.
 21. Themethod of claim 19 wherein the player opts for tiebreaker resolution ofthe player's hand after the beginning of the game play but prior todealing the player's hand.
 22. The method of claim 19 wherein the playeropts for tiebreaker resolution of the player's hand after dealing theplayer's hand but prior to comparing said first set and second set ofsaid player hand to said first set and second set, respectively, of saidbanker hand.
 23. The method of claim 19 wherein the player opts fortiebreaker resolution of the player's hand after comparing said firstset and second set of said player hand to said first set and second set,respectively, of said banker hand.
 24. The method of claim 19 whereinsaid third set of said player outranks said third set of said banker ifthe rank of said third set of said player is greater than or equal tothe rank of said third set of said banker.
 25. The method of claim 19further comprising: before dealing said player hands, said player optingwhether to place a second wager on the player hand compared to apredefined pay table of winning hands and associated pay outs; and afterdealing said player hands, resolving each player's second wager byrewarding said player with the associated pay out if said player's handis a winning hand according to said pay table.
 26. The method of claim19 wherein each said third sets comprise two playing cards each.
 27. Themethod of claim 19 wherein said step of dealing a third set to saidplayer and said banker comprises: randomly dealing cards into two sets;and randomly designating one of said sets the player third set and oneof said sets the banker third set.
 28. The method of claim 19 whereinsix player hands and one banker hand are dealt.
 29. The method of claim19 wherein each player hand and each banker hand comprises seven cards.30. The method of claim 19 wherein each player hand and the banker handare dealt from a deck of cards comprising a single conventional deck offifty-two cards plus one joker.
 31. The method of claim 30 wherein sixplayer hands and one banker hand are dealt.
 32. The method of claim 30wherein each player hand and each banker hand comprises seven cards. 33.The method of claim 32 wherein six player hands and one banker hand aredealt.
 34. The method of claim 33 wherein said step of dealing a thirdset to said player and said banker comprises of randomly dealing thefour remaining cards in said deck into two sets of two cards each. 35.The method of claim 34 further comprising randomly designating one ofsaid two sets of two cards each the player third set and one of saidsets the banker third set.
 36. The method of claim 35 wherein said thetwo sets of two cards each are randomly designated by the outcome of therolling of a die or dice.
 37. A method for conducting a card gamebetween a banker and at least one player using one or more decks ofplaying cards, or electronic representations thereof, comprising: theplayer placing one or more wager; dealing a hand of cards to each playerand the banker; dividing each hand of cards into a first set and asecond set, said first and second sets mutually exclusive; for eachplayer hand, comparing said first set and second set of said player handto said first set and second set, respectively, of said banker hand; foreach player hand, if both said first set and second set of said playerhand outrank said corresponding first set and second set of said bankerhand, rewarding said player based on said one or more wager; for eachplayer hand, if both said first set and second set of said banker handoutrank said corresponding first set and second set of said player-hand,collecting said one or more wager; and for each player hand, if saidonly one of said first set or second set outrank said correspondingfirst set or second set of said banker hand, resolving said player handby dealing a third set for the player and a third set for the bankerconsisting of two or more cards each and, if two of the three sets ofthe player hand outrank the corresponding sets of the banker hand,rewarding the player based on said one or more wager, otherwisecollecting said one or more wager.
 38. The method of claim 37 whereinsaid third set of said player outranks said third set of said banker ifthe rank of said third set of said player is greater than or equal tothe rank of said third set of said banker.
 39. The method of claim 37further comprising: before dealing said player hands, said player optingwhether to place a second wager on the player hand compared to apredefined pay table of winning hands and associated pay outs; and afterdealing said player hands, resolving each player's second wager byrewarding said player with the associated pay out if said player's handis a winning hand according to said pay table.
 40. The method of claim37 wherein said step of dealing a third set to said player and saidbanker comprises: randomly dealing cards into two sets; and randomlydesignating one of said sets the player third set and one of said setsthe banker third set.
 41. The method of claim 37 wherein six playerhands and one banker hand are dealt.
 42. The method of claim 37 whereineach player hand and each banker hand comprises seven cards.
 43. Themethod of claim 37 wherein each player hand and the banker hand aredealt from a deck of cards comprising a single conventional deck offifty-two cards plus one joker.
 44. The method of claim 43 wherein sixplayer hands and one banker hand are dealt.
 45. The method of claim 43wherein each player hand and each banker hand comprises seven cards. 46.The method of claim 45 wherein six player hands and one banker hand aredealt.
 47. The method of claim 46 wherein said step of dealing a thirdset to said player and said banker comprises of randomly dealing thefour remaining cards in said deck into two sets of two cards each. 48.The method of claim 47 randomly designating one of said two sets of twocards each the player third set and one of said sets the banker thirdset.
 49. The method of claim 48 wherein said the two sets of two cardseach are randomly designated by the outcome of a die or dice.
 50. Amethod for conducting a card game between a banker and at least oneplayer using one or more decks of playing cards, or electronicrepresentations thereof, comprising: the player placing one or morewager; dealing a hand of cards to each player and the banker; dividingeach hand of cards into a first set and a second set, said first andsecond sets mutually exclusive; for each player hand, comparing saidfirst set and second set of said player hand to said first set andsecond set, respectively, of said banker hand; for each player hand, ifboth said first set and second set of said player hand outrank saidcorresponding first set and second set of said banker hand, rewardingsaid player based on said one or more wager; for each player hand, ifboth said first set and second set of said banker hand outrank saidcorresponding first set and second set of said player hand, collectingsaid one or more wager; and for each player hand, if said only one ofsaid first set or second set outrank said corresponding first set orsecond set of said banker hand, resolving said player hand by dealing athird set shared among all players and a third set for the bankerconsisting of two or more cards each and, if two of the three sets ofthe player hand outrank the corresponding sets of the banker hand,rewarding the player based on said one or more wager, otherwisecollecting said one or more wager.
 51. The method of claim 50 whereinsaid third set of said player outranks said third set of said banker ifthe rank of said third set of said player is greater than or equal tothe rank of said third set of said banker.
 52. The method of claim 50further comprising: before dealing said player hands, said player optingwhether to place a second wager on the composition of the player handcompared to a predefined pay table of winning hands and associated payouts; and after dealing said player hands, resolving each player'ssecond wager by rewarding said player with the associated pay out ifsaid player's hand is a winning hand according to said pay table. 53.The method of claim 50 wherein said step of dealing a third set to saidplayer and said banker comprises: randomly dealing cards into two sets;and randomly designating one of said sets the player third set and oneof said sets the banker third set.
 54. The method of claim 50 whereinsix player hands and one banker hand are dealt.
 55. The method of claim50 wherein each player hand and each banker hand comprises seven cards.56. The method of claim 50 wherein each player hand and the banker handare dealt from a deck of cards comprising a single conventional deck offifty-two cards plus one joker.
 57. The method of claim 56 wherein sixplayer hands and one banker hand are dealt.
 58. The method of claim 56wherein each player hand and each banker hand comprises seven cards. 59.The method of claim 58 wherein six player hands and one banker hand aredealt.
 60. The method of claim 59 wherein said step of dealing a thirdset to said player and said banker comprises of randomly dealing thefour remaining cards in said deck into two sets of two cards each. 61.The method of claim 60 randomly designating one of said two sets of twocards each the player third set and one of said sets the banker thirdset.
 62. The method of claim 61 wherein said the two sets of two cardseach are randomly designated by the outcome of a die or dice.